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Inter-Country Adoptions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Ceisteanna (425)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

425. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the subsidiary principle of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Children in Intercountry Adoption was implemented in the adoption of five children from the United States of America to Ireland in 2014, considering that 7,092 children were adopted into the United States of America from overseas in 2013. [14230/15]

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Freagraí scríofa

Ireland and the United States are both signatories to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of intercountry adoption. The principle of subsidiarity is highlighted in the preamble to the Convention and provides that: ‘An adoption within the scope of the Convention shall take place only if the competent authorities of the State of origin have determined, after possibilities for placement of the child within the State of origin have been given due consideration, that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests.’

In addition to the Convention itself, adoptions between Ireland and the USA are also dealt with in accordance with an Administrative Arrangement agreed between the two National Central Authorities on 2 May 2013. Article 2(a) of the Administrative Arrangement provides for a relevant authority in the United States providing a letter to the Adoption Authority of Ireland showing why the child (to be adopted) could not be timely placed with suitable adoptive parents in the United States and detailing what steps have been taken to support this finding.

The Adoption Authority advises that all adoptions effected between the United States and Ireland since June 2013 have been effected in accordance with the Administrative Arrangement between the two countries. I am advised that representatives of the Authority intend to travel to the USA in Autumn 2015 in order to review the arrangement.

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